Tasting Notes

One of Eric Rodez's prestige collection of Champagnes that he calls "Empreinte de Terroir" or terroir imprint - something many Champenois didn't believe existed or mattered in the past however the best of the Grower Producers are changing this notion entirely. This bottle is a vintage-dated, monovarietal Champagne from Rodez's best parcels and is made only in the best vintages and is vinified entirely in oak barrels.

Staff Pick Notes

Eric Rodez family has been making wine for 9 generations, and there is a 10th generation in the works. They are located in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay, which is the heart of Pinot Noir country in Champagne. This all Pinot Noir vintage 2004 cuvee is as good as it gets when it comes to single varietal expressions in Champagne.
Here the average age of the vines is over 40 years, wood barrel fermentation and no cold stabilization or filtration. All that just boils down to a lot of care is taken by Eric, from vineyard to bottle, and that passion shows of wine. This is a wine that will make almost any occasion special. On its own this wine shines with depth and power but also elegance and grace. For me though, this wine truly is in its element with salty and rich foods.

- JGM

Astor's Glossary of Terms

Pinot Noir

The Burgundy region of northeastern France is the historic home of the Pinot Noir grape, and is the source of the world’s greatest examples. Here one finds renditions of Pinot Noir that deliver power with finesse and grace, wines that have unimaginable depth of flavor, yet are perfectly balanced and ephemeral in the mouth - in short, wines that deliver all that Pinot Noir has to offer. Terroir,...

Champagne

Champagne is finally getting the recognition it deserves as a brilliant food wine. For consistency and quality, turn to the big Champagne brands and you’ll never go wrong. Remember that “Non-Vintage” (NV) is not a dirty word here: NV Champagnes are blends of wines from the best growing seasons. But if you can find one, try a Champagne made by a Grower-Producer. These winemakers control every...

Terroir

“Terroir” means earth or soil in French. In the wine world, terroir refers to the physical conditions of a region, a vineyard site, or any parcel of vine-populated land. Terroir is the interplay between soil and climate and the impact of these elements on a wine.